Greg Hillers Aqua Delight Acropora: Color, Placement & Care

Greg Hillers Aqua Delight Acropora is a classic SPS piece known for its intense blue tips and rich body coloration. It can be a showpiece colony if you dial in light, flow, and stability.

Lighting & Placement

This acro loves strong light, but it will punish sudden changes. Think slow and steady.

• PAR target: 250–350 PAR for best color and growth.
• Placement: Upper half of the rockwork, but start it lower and move it up over 2–3 weeks.
• Acclimation tip: Use a light acclimation mode or raise your fixture and lower it gradually.
• Signs of too much light: Bleaching, faded tips, or tissue receding from the base.

Flow, Stability & Feeding

Aqua Delight likes strong, random flow and very stable parameters.

• Flow: High, alternating flow; avoid direct, constant blasts that strip tissue.
• Alkalinity: 8–9 dKH with minimal daily swing; test at the same time every day.
• Calcium & magnesium: ~420 ppm Ca, 1300–1400 ppm Mg to support steady skeletal growth.
• Nutrients: Keep some nitrate and phosphate (e.g., 5–15 ppm NO₃, 0.03–0.08 ppm PO₄) to avoid pale, starved tissue.
• Feeding: Light broadcast feeding of SPS foods or reef roids 1–2x per week with skimmer on a short timer.

Quick frag tip: Mount frags on a small plug or tile, then glue the plug into a larger rock. This lets you adjust height and angle easily while the colony grows out.

Watch polyp extension at night and tip coloration. When both look full and vibrant, Greg Hillers Aqua Delight Acropora will quickly become one of the standout SPS pieces in your reef.